Meat Success

Chop Local
  • 5.0 (4)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Are you a farmer or butcher ready to master direct-to-consumer marketing and “Meat Success”? Then you're in the right place! From the team responsible for the ChopLocal meat marketplace, each episode of this podcast features interviews with farmers and butchers who have built successful direct-to-consumer meat businesses. And they’re going to share their secrets for success with you! From actionable tips to inspiring stories, this podcast has the ingredients you need to succeed in the meat business! After the show, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, follow us on social and check out the rest of our educational resources at ChopLocalUniversity.com.

  1. MAR 26

    Chop Local Office Hours: How to Use AI in Your Meat Marketing

    Episode 38 | In a monthly Chop Local Office Hours Session, the team discusses using AI as a fast assistant for food and farm businesses, while emphasizing risks including confidentiality, loss of authentic voice, inaccuracies and “hallucinations,” confirmation bias, and concerns about environmental impact and rural data centers. They share practical uses: drafting and polishing difficult customer-service emails, FAQs, newsletters, and website copy; analyzing survey, sales, and expense spreadsheets; troubleshooting tech platforms like Google and Meta tools; and even interpreting medical reports while awaiting a doctor’s review. For marketing, they recommend using AI for ideas and outlines rather than final posts, and warn that AI images often contain subtle errors, off-brand design, or unrealistic visuals. Tips include prompting with roles (“you are an expert”), asking for pros/cons, requesting peer-reviewed research, providing examples/links to match brand voice, and focusing copy on customer benefits; tools mentioned include ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Fathom Notetaker, and Canva. If you've been curious about integrating AI into your Meat Business, give this episode a listen! Grab our mEat-Commerce Essentials to start making money in your direct-to-consumer business today with $100 off the course with code: POD100 Snag Access Here: https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/meat-commerce-essentials-1 And learn more about ChopLocal and ChopLocal University Below! https://choplocal.com/https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/00:00 Welcome and Topic Setup01:26 AI Risks and Privacy02:37 Authentic Voice and Accuracy06:07 Environmental and Rural Impacts08:08 AI as a Fast Assistant09:14 Customer Service and Tone12:42 Data and Spreadsheet Analytics15:22 Tech Troubleshooting and Other Uses18:49 Marketing with AI21:02 AI Images and Graphic Pitfalls24:31 Prompting Tips for Better Output32:16 Favorite Tools and Final Takeaways33:35 Wrap Up and Next Steps

    35 min

  2. MAR 19

    How Farmers Can Use Google Analytics & Search Console to Get Found Online with Julia Bocchese

    Episode 37 | Grab our mEat-Commerce Essentials to start making money in your direct-to-consumer business today with $100 off the course with code: POD100 Snag Access Here: https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/meat-commerce-essentials-1 On this episode of the Meat Success podcast, Katie interviews Julia Bocchese of Homegrown Reach about SEO for small farms and related businesses. Julia explains she started serving farms after struggling as a customer to find local compost companies, farmers markets, and CSAs via Google, and now helps agricultural businesses improve search visibility. They cover what Google Analytics and Google Search Console do, why both free tools matter, and how “rankings” work. Julia outlines basic setup steps, emphasizing that farmers must own their accounts (never let an agency set them up under the agency email) and can add professionals as admins. They discuss what to monitor (traffic sources, location, engagement, key pages, queries/clicks/impressions/position), common pitfalls like Linktree, split platforms (Squarespace + Shopify), site speed and image compression, and which Search Console alerts to ignore versus fix (notably 404s and some no-index issues). Connect with Julia at https://homegrownreach.com/. 01:12 Julia Origin Story04:01 Why SEO Matters05:21 Google Analytics Basics07:01 Search Console Explained07:57 What Ranking Means10:34 Local vs Product Keywords12:57 Setting Up Analytics17:27 Reading Analytics Data17:55 Tracking Pitfalls to Avoid20:43 Engagement and Site Speed22:58 Setting Up Search Console26:07 Ownership and Admin Access29:11 Safe Account Access30:17 Search Console Metrics31:37 Live Search Console Walkthrough36:25 Boosting Click Through Rate40:31 Ignoring Scary GSC Emails41:31 Fixing 404s and Noindex45:27 Why Google Analytics Wins47:15 UTM Links and Campaign Tracking51:20 Wrap Up and Next Steps Learn more about ChopLocal and ChopLocal University Below! https://choplocal.com/https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/

    56 min

  3. MAR 5

    Introducing the Meat Squad: Your Partner in Local Meat Marketing Success

    Episode 36 | Katie Olthoff, co-founder of Chop Local and Chop Local University, announces a new service called the Meat Squad and explains how it evolved from disruptions in the 2020 meat supply chain that drove demand for local meat and led to Chop Local’s online marketplace and later educational resources. After repeated requests from farmers and small butcher shops to “do it for me,” Chop Local formalized its done-for-you marketing work into the Meat Squad, led by Katie and Sierra with additional specialists as needed, and is currently hiring a graphic designer (noted for early March 2026). Services include email marketing, organic social media, Facebook and Google ads management, website design and platform setup (Shopify, Squarespace, Wix), and more. Two options are offered: a Startup plan for foundational brand and digital setup and a Scale Up package for ongoing monthly support, billed hourly with tracked time, plus optional one-on-one consulting. Learn more here: https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/meatsquad-meat-marketing 00:00 Welcome and announcement00:43 2020 meat supply crisis02:07 Chop Local marketplace origin02:55 Education with University03:35 Why Meat Squad exists05:23 Team and services offered07:11 How to hire us07:33 Startup plan overview08:27 Scale up plan ongoing09:13 Pricing and tracking hours10:24 Why we are effective11:49 Working with competitors12:55 Next steps and wrap up Grab our mEat-Commerce Essentials to start making money in your direct-to-consumer business today with $100 off the course with code: POD100 Snag Access Here: https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/meat-commerce-essentials-1 And learn more about ChopLocal and ChopLocal University Below! https://choplocal.com/https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/

    15 min

  4. FEB 19

    Exploring Social Media Trends and Tactics for Direct to Consumer Producers with Dr. Leona Su

    Grab our mEat-Commerce Essentials to start making money in your direct-to-consumer business today with $100 off the course with code: POD100 Snag Access Here: https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/meat-commerce-essentials-1 On this episode of Meat Success, Dr. Leona Su joins the conversation to explore how farms and ranches can use social media as a practical business tool—not just a promotional outlet. The discussion covers building trust with consumers, choosing the right platforms for your operation, creating content that reflects real farm life, and turning online engagement into measurable value for your brand. From time management strategies to maintaining authenticity while staying consistent, this episode offers approachable insights for producers at any stage of their social media journey. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to refine your digital presence, you’ll walk away with ideas to help your farm’s story connect, educate, and grow. Dr. Su is currently conducting additional research that examines how farmers like you use social media tools and AI to support your marketing efforts. If you would like to participate, please complete this brief survey: https://illinois.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5b4HeeQVVKzcou2 *The data collected in this study will be used solely for research purposes, with interview videos transcribed for analysis and anonymized to remove any personally identifiable information. The data will be securely stored, accessible only to the research team, and be erased after the study concludes. And learn more about ChopLocal and ChopLocal University Below! https://choplocal.com/https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/

    53 min

  5. FEB 12

    Regeneration Through Technology: A Conversation with Tom Richards, Founder of HarvestPath

    In this episode of the Meat Success podcast, Katie Olthoff, co-founder of Chop Local and Chop Local University, sits down with Tom Richards to learn more about his regenerative ranch in California and his efforts with HarvestPath. Tom discusses his family’s long history in agriculture and their journey into selling beef direct to consumers. Additionally, Tom dives deeper into HarvestPath, a software solution he developed to solve data management challenges in ranching. This comprehensive tool aids farmers, ranchers, and processors across the country in managing animal records, production costs, and customer relationships. The software, built on the Salesforce platform, offers modules for tracking animals, managing the production process, and handling customer relations and sales. Tom also highlights how the tool can assist with planning, loan applications, and operational scaling, aiming to support the alternative meat supply chain for greater success. Make sure to sign up for the Spring Webinar Series, where we are sharing strategies on how to better sell your meat! Learn more here: https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/blog/2025-meat-marketing-webinars And learn more about ChopLocal and ChopLocal University Below! https://choplocal.com/https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/

    36 min

  6. FEB 5

    Rachel Jantzi's Path to Regenerative Agriculture in British Columbia

    Episode 33 | In this episode of the Meat Success podcast, Katie Olthoff, co-founder of Chop Local and Chop Local University, interviews Rachel Jantzi, a farmer from northeastern British Columbia. Rachel shares her journey from being a conventional and organic farmer to starting her own regenerative farm called Grazing Patch Farm. She discusses her current farm operation, which includes laying hens, meat birds, sheep, and pigs, and the logistics and challenges of raising these animals. Rachel outlines her diverse background, including carpentry, plumbing, working on large organic farms, and building robots, and how these experiences have helped her in farming. She details her meticulous planning and financial strategies, including the importance of accurate cost calculations and making use of online and community marketing to grow her customer base. Rachel emphasizes the importance of transparency and authenticity in marketing and shares tips on setting up an efficient system for online sales and customer engagement. Her story serves as an inspiration and a practical guide for aspiring regenerative farmers. Grab our mEat-Commerce Essentials to start making money in your direct-to-consumer business today with $100 off the course with code: POD100 Snag Access Here: https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/meat-commerce-essentials-1 And learn more about ChopLocal and ChopLocal University Below! https://choplocal.com/https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/

    47 min

  7. JAN 29

    Office Hours Special: Maximizing Customer Value in 2026

    Episode 32 | In this special episode of the Meat Success podcast, Katie Olthoff, co-founder of Chop Local and Chop Local University, presents key insights and data from the 2025 CHOP Local marketplace. The episode explores various metrics such as average order size and customer lifetime value, offering actionable strategies to increase repeat customer rates. Listeners will gain tips on enhancing customer satisfaction through personalized touches, effective post-order communication, and strategic email marketing. Katie also discusses the importance of shipping orders, leveraging social media, and preparing for upcoming marketing opportunities, including the Super Bowl and Valentine's Day. This data-driven episode aims to help vendors optimize their business strategies for increased sales and customer retention in 2026. Grab our mEat-Commerce Essentials to start making money in your direct-to-consumer business today with $100 off the course with code: POD100 Snag Access Here: https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/meat-commerce-essentials-1 00:00 Introduction to the Meat Success Podcast00:14 Overview of Monthly Office Hours00:37 2025 Data Insights and Analysis02:53 Understanding Customer Metrics09:37 Strategies to Increase Repeat Customer Rate13:36 Shipping vs. Pickup Orders15:00 Characteristics of High-Performing Vendors19:47 Marketing Ideas for Upcoming Events21:49 Seasonal Promotions and Future Planning And learn more about ChopLocal and ChopLocal University Below! https://choplocal.com/https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/

    26 min

  8. JAN 22

    How to Price and Sell Your Meat Online Direct to Consumer

    Episode 31 | In this episode of the Meat Success podcast, Katie Olthoff, co-founder of Chop Local and Chop Local University, prepares to speak at the Annual Grassworks Conference about effective e-commerce strategies for direct-to-consumer farms. She shares insights from her presentation, which includes results from a national survey on online meat sales. Katie discusses the pros and cons of selling meat by exact weight versus using weight ranges, emphasizing that the latter can reduce customer uncertainty and increase sales. She also provides practical tips for farmers on managing inventory and selecting the right e-commerce platform. Grab our mEat-Commerce Essentials to start making money in your direct-to-consumer business today with $100 off the course with code: POD100 Snag Access Here: https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/meat-commerce-essentials-1 00:00 Welcome to the Meat Success Podcast00:12 Preparing for the Annual Grassworks Conference00:40 Insights from the National Ag Marketing Summit02:06 The Concept of Selling Meat by Exact Weight02:28 Personal Meat Buying Experiences04:15 Challenges with Exact Weight Pricing05:17 The Shift to Weight Variations09:17 Implementing Weight Variations in Practice11:35 Customer Reactions and Best Practices13:49 Conclusion and Call to Action And learn more about ChopLocal and ChopLocal University Below! https://choplocal.com/https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/

    17 min
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5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Are you a farmer or butcher ready to master direct-to-consumer marketing and “Meat Success”? Then you're in the right place! From the team responsible for the ChopLocal meat marketplace, each episode of this podcast features interviews with farmers and butchers who have built successful direct-to-consumer meat businesses. And they’re going to share their secrets for success with you! From actionable tips to inspiring stories, this podcast has the ingredients you need to succeed in the meat business! After the show, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, follow us on social and check out the rest of our educational resources at ChopLocalUniversity.com.

Information

  • Creator
    Chop Local
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Chop Local
  • Show Website
    Meat Success

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